1. Regulatory Framework for Tourism – Visa Policy www.tourism.government.bg REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Ministry of Tourism

2. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Ministry of Tourism www.tourism.government.bg Regulatory Framework for Tourism – Visa Policy Visa Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mrs. Irena Gueorguieva European Tourism Forum Luxembourg, 16-18 th of September 2015

3. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Ministry of Tourism www.tourism.government.bg Visa Policy of the Republic of Bulgaria Main priority Visa for travel Facilitate the issuance of visa for travel through the creation of an organization at consular posts:

4. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Ministry of Tourism www.tourism.government.bg -Technical and staff provision of consulates -Effective accreditation system -E-visa service -Flexible working and visiting hours of the Embassies and Consulates Russian Federation Ukraine Turkey Kazakhstan Some Persian Gulf countries VFS Global First main group of measures

5. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Ministry of Tourism www.tourism.government.bg Second main group of measures The Republic of Bulgaria recognizes valid uniform visas short-stay type "C" long-stay visa type "D“ residence permits issued by EU Member States which fully implement the Schengen acquis, as well as from Cyprus, Romania and Croatia for equivalent visas.

6. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Ministry of Tourism www.tourism.government.bg Annual adoption and implementation of specific proposals/ ideas from thе Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the process of issuing visas. * In 2015 : Bulgarian diplomatic and consular representations in Turkey / winter season / in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Georgia / for the summer tourist season / were given specific instructions to expand the practice of issuing double-entry and in some cases and multiple-entry visas. Third main group of measures

7. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Ministry of Tourism www.tourism.government.bg In 2014 the total number of visas issued to foreign citizens for tourism / organized and unorganized / amounts to 577,639. From January 1, 2015 to August 21, 2015 the number of visas issued to foreign citizens for tourism is 390,078. Statistical database

8. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Ministry of Tourism www.tourism.government.bg NEW CHALLENGE Biometric data collection upon accession of Bulgaria to the Schengen area Building effective and efficient operating system Willingness to take new measures to facilitate the visa issuance procedure

9. REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Ministry of Tourism www.tourism.government.bg Thank you very much for your attention!